Objective To explore the effects of inhibiting DDR2 expression by siRNA on hepatic stellate cells and evaluate the role of DDR2 gene in hepatic fibrogenesis. Methods (1) Three pairs of chemically synthesized siRNAs targeting DDR2 were respectively transfected into HSC-T6 cells for evaluation of silence efficacy, and the most effective siRNA was used. (2) HSC-T6 cells were divided into three groups, group A served as normal controls, group B served as negative control and group C was RNA interference DDR2 (siRNA-DDR2) expression of HSC. The most effective RNA interference sequences targeting DDR2 gene was chosen to transfect HSC-T6 cells by plasmid transfection. The tendency of DDR2, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and collagen-Ⅰ mRNA expression were estimated using RT-PCR, and the protein expression of DDR2 was evaluated by Western blot. Meanwhile, MTT assay was employed to analyze the proliferation of HSC. Results (1) DDR2 siRNA, which began at nt 868, inhibited DDR2 gone expression stronger than the other two siRNAs. (2) After transfection of siRNA-DDR2, the mRNA expression of DDR2 (P<0.01) and α-SMA (P<0.01) significantly decreased compared with the normal group, and the protein expression of DDR2 also significantly decreased (P<0.01). In addition, the proliferation of HSC was also markedly suppressed as compared with the normal group (P<0.01). However, compared with the negative control group, none of them was markedly suppressed. Conclusion SiRNA targeting DDR2 significantly suppresses the activation, proliferation of HSC, and thus attenuates hepatic fibrogonesis in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the mechanism of altered gastrointestinal motility in portal hypertensive rats. Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups:sham- operation control (SO, n=8), prehepatic portal hypertension by partial stenosis of the portal vein (PHPH, n=8 ), intrahepatic portal hypertension induced by injection of CCl 4 (IHPH, n=8), and intrahepatic portal hypertension with portacaval shunt (IHPH-PCS, n=8). Gastrointestinal myoelectrical activity and motility were monitored. Gastrointestinal hormones were measured with radioimmunoassay.Results Compared with SO rats, gastrointestinal motor index(MI) were reduced and abnormal myoelectrical activity were recorded (P

Objective To explore the effects of silencing DDR2 expression by siRNA on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and its mechanism in rats. Methods Liver fibrosis model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Some rats were administered siRNA targeting DDR2 (0. 3 mg/kg), saline or control siRNA every three days from the beginning of CCl4 injection via tail vein injection, while other rats were treated in the same pattern after 2-week CCl4 injection. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of DDR2, MMP-2 and COL Ⅰ . Meanwhile, the pathological changes of liver tissues and the levels of liver function were also observed. Results QRT-PCR showed that the DDR2, MMP-2 and COL Ⅰ mRNA in the chemically synthetic cholesterol-modified siRNADDR2 group were significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group (P＜0.01) ,and the protein expressions of DDR2, MMP-2 and COL Ⅰ were also significantly decreased (P＜0. 01,4 wand 6w). In addition, in comparison with those in the control group, the pathological changes of liver tissues in the siRNA-DDR2 treated group were markedly attenuated, and the levels of ALT(1356.17 ±83.80 nkat/L vs 2532. 70±145.11 nkat/L,4w,1367. 60±321.76 nkat/L vs 2604.37±255.02 nkat/L,6w,P＜0. 01 ) and AST (2460. 80 ± 207. 58 nkat/L vs 3983. 70 ± 253. 08 nkat/L, 4w, P＜ 0. 01,2383.27±290.16 nkat/L vs 3227.70±353. 34 nkat/L,6w,P＜0. 05)were also significantly lowered,while the level of TBIL (7. 97 ± 1.60 μmol/L vs 3.80± 0.60 μmol/L, 4w, 10.40±1.61 μmol/L vs 6.10±0.79 μmol/L,6w,P＜0. 01)was markedly increased. Conclusion Systemic administration of cholesterol-modified siRNA targeting DDR2 could significantly suppress the expression of DDR2, decrease the contents of the extracellular matrix,and thus has a potential antifibrotic effect.

Objective To discuss the perioperative management of cirrhotic patients undergoing abdominal operation. Methods From Jan. 2000 to Jul. 2007, 93 patients with PHT underwent operation in our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the data according to different therapy result. Results 21 cases developed postoperative ascites. The occurrence of ascites in patients dealt with PHT and coexistent other abdominal disease was 7% and 12% respectively for Child A and B grade patients. The occurrence of ascites in patients dealt with only abdominal disease was 13% and 17% respectively for Child A and B grade patients. The occurrence of ascites in patients dealt with PHT and abdominal disease was amazingly 83% for Child C cases. Patients suffered from tumors didn't have more risk of ascites than the other patients. Conclusion The proper perioperative management of patients can decrease the mortality. To deal with PHT together with abdominal operation is reasonable for patients in Child A or B liver function, and it would not increase the postoperative ascites. For the selective patients, we must try our best to decrease the ascites preoperatively to improve the condition.

Objective To assess the clinical value of high-frequency electrocautery in the treatment of massive hemorrhage of presacral venous plexus. Methods The clinical data of 8 patients with presacral venous hemorrhage treated with high-frequency electrocautery from February 2005 to March 2008 were analyzed. Once the presacral venous hemorrhage happened, the bleeding site was pressed with a gauze or finger and the accumulated blood was aspirated. Then, while simultaneously withdrawing the gauze or finger over the bleeding sites, high-frequency electrocautery was applied with a power of 80-100 W to coagulate all the bleeding sites. Results High-frequency electrocautery was used to stop bleeding in the 8 patients, and no electrocautery related complica-tions occurred postoperatively. Conclusions High-frequency electrocautery for massive hemorrhage of presacral venous plexus is simple, efficient and safe.

Objective To investigate the preopera ti ve diagnosis and the surgical treatment of primary retroperitoneal tumor(PRT). Methods The clinical dat a of 71 patients with PRT were retrospectively analyzed including clinical manif estation, radiologic studies, pathologic examination and surgical procedures. Results There were 32 cases of benign tumor, 38 cases of malignant tumor and 1 case of borderline tumor. Of the 32 patients with benign tumor, 31 underwent complete surgical resection. Of the 38 patients with malignant tumor, 29 underwent complete resection. One patie nt with borderline tumor underwent total resection. The 5-year survival rate of benign PRT was 89.29%, the 5-year survival rate of malignant PRT was 20.80%. Four cases of recurrent benign PRT underwent complete resection. Ten cases of r ecurrent malignant PRT underwent complete resection and 3 underwent partial rese ction. ConclusionsRadiolog ical study is crucial for the diagnosis. Complete resection is the key for the t reatment of PRT.

This study was aimed to observe the effect ofYang-Xue Qing-Nao(YXQN) granules on expressions of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) andβ-catenin in CA1 area of hippocampus among vascular dementia (VD) rats. A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, VD group (model group) and the YXQN granules treatment group (treatment group). The VD rat model was prepared by modified Pulsineli’s four-vessel occlusion. The expressions of GSK-3β andβ-catenin in CA1 area of hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting at the 1st week, 2nd week, 4th weeks and 8th week after VD model operation. The results showed that expressions of GSK-3βwere increased in the model group at different time points, which were many quantities of expression at the 1st week, and a large number of expressions at the 2nd week. It reached peak at the 4th week; and began to decline but still higher at the 8th week. Compared with the sham operation group, the expression of GSK-3β was significantly increased in the model group at different time points (P < 0.01). The expression ofβ-catenin was increased in the model group at different time points. However, there was no statistical significance compared with the sham operation group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, expressions of GSK-3β andβ-catenin were significantly increased in the treatment group at different time points (P < 0.01). It was concluded that YXQN granules upregulated the expression of GSK-3β andβ-catenin, which may be helpful to VD treatment.

This study was aimed to observe the regulating effect of Shen-Xiong Hua-Y u (SXHY) capsule precondi-tioning on the expression of subtypes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nervous nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in cerebral ischemia-reperfu-sion injury (CIRI) among rats, and to further clarify the mechanism of protective effect by SXHY capsule on acute CIRI rats. Rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, CIRI group, and SXHY capsule of high-, medium-, and low-dose preconditioning group (480, 240, 120 mg·kg-1). Each group was further randomly divided into different subgroups, which were the 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h group after 2 h CIRI (n=6). Intragastric administration was given once a day for 7 days. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion model was repro-duced by an intraluminal filament method on the 7th day. The protein expressions of eNOS, nNOS and iNOS were measured by immunhistochemical method. The results showed that compared with the sham operation group, expres-sions of eNOS, nNOS and iNOS in the CIRI group were increased at different time points (i.e., 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h, P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). Compared with the CIRI group, eNOS expression increased at different time points in SX-HY capsule group (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). The nNOS and iNOS expression decreased at different time points (P<0.05 or P < 0.01). Among them, the high-dose group was the group with the most obvious effect. It was concluded that SXHY capsule preconditioning had protective effect on CIRI. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation on protein expression of NOS subtypes.

Objective To explore the feasibility,safety and efficacy of laparoscopy assisted ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beneath the diaphragm.Methods Twentythree consecutive patients with solitary HCC beneath the diaphragm were treated by laparoscopy assisted ultrasound guided RFA in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2013 to March 2016.We observed the p erioperative complications and followedup long-term effect.Results All the 23 patients successfully underwent laparoscopy assisted ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation.No serious complications such as massive hemorrhage,biliary fistula and severe pleural effusion,hemopneumothorax occurred in the patients during perioperative period.CT examination 2-3 days after the operation revealed that the tumor was completely covered by the ablation area.Besides,the survival condition was satisfactory during follow-up period of 9-38 months.Conclusion Laparoscopy-assisted ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation is effective and safe for HCC beneath the diaphragm.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were induced into a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype utilizing simulated microgravity in vitro in order to establish a new cell-based tissue engineering treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration. For induction of a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype, MSCs were cultured in simulated microgravity in a chemically defined medium supplemented with 0 (experimental group) and 10 ng/mL (positive control group) of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). MSCs cultured under conventional condition without TGF-β1 served as blank control group. On the day 3 of culture, cellular proliferation was determined by WST-8 assay. Differentiation markers were evaluated by histology and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TGF-β1 slightly promoted the proliferation of MSCs. The collagen and proteoglycans were detected in both groups after culture for 7 days. The accumulation of proteoglycans was markedly increased. The RT-PCR revealed that the gene expression of Sox-9, aggrecan and type II collagen, which were chondrocyte specific, was increased in MSCs cultured under simulated microgravity for 3 days. The ratio of proteoglycans/collagen in blank control group was 3.4-fold higher than positive control group, which denoted a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype differentiation. Independent, spontaneous differentiation of MSCs towards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype in simulated microgravity occurred without addition of any external bioactive stimulators, namely factors from TGF-β family, which were previously considered necessary.